Auxiliary operated pressure relief valve



April 21, 1953 H. M. MCCARTHY 2,635,527

AUXILIARY OPERATED PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE Filed June 3. 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet l i a a 5 5 5 8 i 5 a i 10 4 1 iwzr=-'===s:zai f 4 Reserve Pressure fink April 21, 1953 H. M. MCCARTHY 2,635,627

AUXILIARY OPERATED PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE Fil ed June 5. 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 April .953 H. M. MCCARTHY 2,635,627

AUXILIARY OPERATED PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE Filed June 3. 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 35 /I/\////:/:///'/)":/// 11/ I I I 135 2 I asp 3a; I6 32 Z s z 37 538w E K 127 l 5 ]9 g m 3n/ ].9\ \A 3/ I L d. L.'Q\ I i Z /-9a, 3/621 z 2.9 30 s i Z3 "M; W J I 5 2/ 14 E Z 4 I/I/I/II/ F/CZ-Z Patented Apr. 21, 1953 UNITED TIL-es PATENT pora'tion of Delaware Application'lune '3, 1948',' Serial-N0.'-30,916

g Claims. 1

The presentinvention relates :to a .preSsureresponsive device such as quick-eating, springloaded, pressure relief valve, and more particularly to a valve of such eharacter equipped with auxiliary means to automatically open the valve to its fullest venting capacity upon slight movement of the valve under impulse of the pressure to be released. It is a particular object of the invention to provide an auxiliary means of such character which will not otherwise interfere, to any appreciable extent, with "normal tunctioning of the valve mechanism. It is also an object of the invention to provide such means in which operation and resetting of the means is entirely automatic, through self-contained operating mechanisms. A further object of the invention is to provide a pressure relief valve operable to vent a large volume at comparatively low pressure.

Pressure relief valves as previously designed have been adapted for service involving the relief of vesselsof comparatively small capacity at high pressures, or where the pressure accumulation is at a comparatively low rate. With the advent of large capacity process operations where pressures even slightly above atmospheric are sometimes dangerous, and where the pressure ma'y developrapicily unless immediately a'ndfully vented at once, the common types of pressure relief means have not proved capable of safe operar tion. For example, Where the commonly available pressure relief devices may have a maximum orifice area of from to square inches, several "must be employs-fl to obtain the orifice areas "of above 169 square inches are required by present service, and with each device so adiied an additional hazard of individual failure is incurred, as well as the imposition of additional installation maintenance expense.

'Plilot'operated valves functioning under the impulse of some means other than the pressure to -be re'lieveii have been proposed before, but for the most part have been unsuccessful, or not adaptable to the service now contemplated. In

the service contemplated, a relief device is required which will provide a large orifice area, 'capabl-e of venting pressures from atmospheric to about '50 pounds per square and which will present its full orifice area to vent the pressure before each pressure may :rise more than 1 0 percent above that for which the device is set. Forther, such a device must be operable, atleast in ordinary fashion, in spite of failure of the pilot or booster operating mechanisms.

The present invention contemplates 3,-1p i1'613 op 2 erat'el valve structure, actuated by a "fluid meti-iuni, which meets these requirements, and in which a reserve sunplyof the-fluid medium is'pro' video. against failure of the normal supply thereof.

The invention and. its obiect may" -be more fully understooii from the followin description of an embodiment thereof, when re'axi in con- .Zj unction with the accompanying" drawings, in which:

Fig. '1 is a sicle elevationpart'ly vertical section of a typical valve structure according to the invention.

Fig. lAis a similar viewer .a druondr an alternatelfor m. v

is an enlarged vertical section through anaux'iliary-actuating device. 1

Figs. 3 and 4 are diagrammatic illustrations of stages in the operation of'the device.

Referring moi'enparticula'i ly to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the shell or a pressure 'vesselhavi ng a'ven't opening 1a. A valve or pressure relief housing 2 is disposed over the opening, "concentric therewith. 'Thehousing 2 is pro- Vid'dii/ifih' an inlet 2d am is Vented to'the atmosphere through a flanged discharge passage or outlet 2B, which may be connected to a conduit to conduct the m'aterial venteil from the vessel 'tofla more remotep'oint of discharge.

'Wit'hin the housing" 2, a valve seat 3 is proviled in the inlet in to re'ceivea valve head Li. A valve stem 5 secured to the heail i at oneend extends outwardly through a loosely fitted gland "G- the housing 2, extending therebeyond, within the superstructure "T into-a cylinder 3 'by way of a stuffing box '9. The outer find of the valve stern is connected to apiston head 'Iil within the cylinder '8. A spring member 1 ifcoricentric with the valve stern E, at its upper ens hears against theloiver portion oi meanness and at its lower end against an annular collar T2 threaded on the valve stem 5, The position of the collar 12 may be adjusted longitudinally of the valve stern to war-y compression of the spring it, and thereby determine the pressure required in the vessel to unseat waives. I

I-f desires, the pistes iii! anaeyueder '8 may be replaced "by a dia hragm type valve operating means. "Such means oonventional in remand is generally illustraiteii- Fig; 1A. The cylincle'r 8 is replaced by a' twopart' chamber lea having a flexible lateral diaphragm member on movable under pressure supplies through fcondui it t outer end of the valve stem '5 eeing 'seotrred toithe diaphragm in suitable fashion. Also,

it is within the contemplation of the invention to move the stem as by a solenoid mounted concentrically therewith.

The cylinder 8 is connected to a source of fluid pressure, not shown, to actuate the piston I ii and raise valve head 4 from the seat 3, by means of conduits I4, I5 and I6. The conduit I6 opens into a reserve pressure tank I1, with a check valve Na in the line to prevent back-flow and retain pressure on the tank I1 in the event of failure of the fluid pressure source. Conduit I5 is connected to the tank I1 and to the conduit I4 through valve means within a protective case I8, as particularly shown in Fig. 2. An operating arm or lever I9 rigidly secured or clamped to the valve stem 5 extends therefrom into the case I8 as shown and described with reference to Fig. 2,

In the actuating device, or control means for energizing or deenergizing the operating means previously described, illustrated by Fig. 2, the protective case I8 contains a valve chamber 2| having an inlet port 22 connected to the conduit I5, and an exhaust port 23 opening into the case. The chamber 2| is in two-way communication with the cylinder 8 at all times through the port 24 and conduit I4. The inlet and exhaust ports 22 and 23 are arranged to function alternately by means of valves 25 and 26 respectively, so disposed on the operating rod or valve stem 21 that when one is opened the other will be closed. If desired, a three-way valve may be suitably connected to the conduits M and I5, and by proper linkage to the rod 21 caused to function in similar fashion to the same end. The operating rod 21 extends upwardly through the case I8 and is supported at its upper end for reciprocal movement in a flanged sleeve member or guide 28. The lower portion of the rod is supported by means of a bushing 29 carried as by a spider 3U, concentric with the exhaust port 23.

The rod 21 carries a pair of spaced flanged collar members 3I and 32 adjustable on the rod by means of set screws 3Ia and 32a respectively. A spring steel finger or cam lever IQa is affixed to the inner end of the arm I9, and the arm, in conjunction with the collar 3I, is adjusted so that, with the valve head 4 seated, the finger I9a engages the lower surface of the flange on @01- lar 3 I. A support shaft 33 is adjustably mounted on an inner sidewall of the case I8, above the arm I3 and parallel with the rod 21, being held in a fixed predetermined position by means of clamps 3d and 35 and set screws 34a and 35a. A snap action lever 33 is pivotally mounted on the shaft 33 extending toward and engaging the flange portion of collar 32, the lever snap-action being obtained by means of a spring 31. Actuation of the lever 36 by means of spring 31 is comparable to that conventional in toggle type electric Wall switches. A contact element I 91) is provided on the arm I9 to engage and lift the lever 36 during upward movement of the valve stem 5.

In operation, the compression of valve loading spring II is adjusted by means of the collar I2 so as to provide the resistance required to maintain the valve head 4 seated against the pressure desired to be maintained in the vessel I. With the valve thus seated, and the inlet port 22 closed by valve 25, the arm I9 is positioned on valve stem 5, and collars 3i and 32 are positioned on valve rod 21 so that slight upward movement of the valve head 4 will immediately raise the collar 3| through the arm I9 and leaf spring I9a, thereby raising rod 21, valve 25 and collar 32, opening valve port 22. The raising of collar 32 on rod 21 lifts lever 35 which is ad justed :by means of shaft 33 so that only slight upward, or downward movement is required to permit the spring 31 to induce snap-action of the lever 36. By such action, the collar 32 is lifted suddenly, and thereby the rod 21, to the limit required to fully open port 22, and close port 23 by means of valve 26. The relative position of the elements after actuation of the lever 36 is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3.

With port 22 open, and port 23 closed fluid is permitted to flow through lines I5 and I4 under the pressure of the tank I1 as supplied through the line I6. This flow of fluid through line I4 into cylinder 8, raises the piston Ii? and thereby positively actuates the valve stem 5 to open the valve 4, rapidly and to its full extent against the resistance of the spring II. Once the valve has been so opened the velocity flow of the material vented through the opening Ia and housing 223 will be sufficient to maintain the valve in an open position until the pressure in vessel I has been safely reduced.

Of course, upon upward movement of the valve stem 5 under the fluid pressure applied to the piston ID, the arm I9 rises and the contact element I9?) is brought into engagement with the lower surface of the lever 36, forcing it upward, and reversing the snap-action effect of spring 31 on lever 36. The lever 33 thus is turned on its pivot point to force collar 32 downward, and with it the rod 21 and valves 25 and 26. This action abruptly closes the port 22, and opens the port 23. The relative position of the several elements at this point is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4. The opening of port 23 thus releases pressure against the piston I I7, and as soon as the venting of the vessel I is accomplished, the pressure of the spring I I is unopposed in its action to return the valve 4 to its seat 3. Upon upward or downward movement of the arm I 9 beyond the level of collar 3I when fully raised or lowered by the snap-action of lever 36, the leaf spring I9a is deflected or bent by the flanged portion of collar 3| to permit passage thereby.

Where the operating means is a solenoid, the control means contained in the case I8 may be a simple electric switch actuated in the same or a manner comparable to that described in connection with the fluid control means illustrated. Where used under circumstances requiring operation in spite of failure of the normal source of electric power, provision may be made for automatic connection with an auxiliary operated power source Or with storage batteries.

The invention has been described with par ticular reference to a specific embodiment thereof. Various changes and embodiments are possible, however, and it is not intended to be limited by these disclosures, for the purpose of illustration, but only by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A pressure responsive device comprising a valve member initially movable from a valve seat under pressure applied to said valve member, a valve stem joined at one end to said valve member, a valve lifting mechanism at the other end of said stem to accelerate movement of the valve member from its seat, an independent power source. to energize said mechanism, a power transmission system connected between said source and the valve lifting mechanism, a control means in said system normally closing the system against transmission of power to energize said mechanismfrom the source, a lever element in said system and a support therefor, said element pivotally mounted on said support for reciprocally arcuate movement relative thereto, said element engaging said control means at one end, spring means secured to said element and acting thereon to accelerate movement of the lever element and thereby said control means, a control actuating means carried by said valve stem sequentially to engage said control means and lever element upon initial and immediately subsequent unseating movement of the valve and stem under pressure applied to said valve, actuating said control means, lever, and spring means to open said transmission system and to re-close it in sequence, energizing and. immediately de-energizing said valve lifting mechanism, and means for reseating said valve upon release of pressure originally applied thereto 2. A pressure relief device comprising a vent housing having an inlet and an outlet, a closure member normally seated in said inlet and initially movable from its seat under the pressure to be released, a fluid pressure receiver externally associated with said housing, means internally of said receiver reciprocally movable therein under fluid pressure applied to the receiver, a stem connected at one end to said means extending through one wall'of said housing and connected at the other end to said closure member, conduit means for supplying a fluid under pressure to said receiver to actuate said reciprocally movable means and said stem and thereby to move said closure member away from the seat to fully open the housing inlet, valve means in said conduit normally closing the conduit while venting said ried by said stem sequentially engageable with i said control means and lever element to initiate operation thereof upon initial and immediately subsequent unseating movement of said closure member and stem, actuating said control means so as successively to pressurize and to vent said receiver in sequence and means for returning said closure member to its seat.

3. A device according to claim 1, in which said fluid pressure receiver is a cylinder, and said reciprocally movable means is a piston element in said cylinder.

4. A device according to claim 1, in which said fluid pressure receiver is a walled chamber and said reciprocally movable means is a flexible diaphragm element transversely of said chamber.

5. In combination with a means to accelerate movement of a valve, said valve having a stem connected to said acceleration means, a control means for energizing and de-energizing said acceleration means, comprising a manifold chamber, an inlet port opening into said chamber, an exhaust port opening from said chamber, and a discharge port in open communication with said chamber, an inlet port closure member in said chamber normally closing said inlet port, an exhaust port closure member in said chamber disposed in spaced relationship to said inlet closure member and normally spaced from the exhaust port, a common rod support for said closure members extending outwardly from said chamber through said exhaust port and disposed for reciprocal movement in said chamber, a lever element and a support therefor, said element pivotally mounted on said support for reciprocal arcuate movement relative thereto in engagement with the rod, spring means secured to said element and acting thereon to accelerate arcuate movement of the lever element and thereby reciprocal movement of said rod, and means carried by said valve stem and movable therewith sequentially engaging said rod and then the lever upon initial and immediately subsequent movement of the stem, actuating said rod, lever, and spring means, and thereby the closure members so as alternately to open and close the inlet port and alternately to close and open the exhaust port in sequence.

HAROLD M. McCARTHY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,837,007 Wolfe Dec. 15, 1931 2,180,395 Briscoe Nov. 21, 1939 2,287,936 Hose June- 30, 1942 2,450,554 Jorgensen Oct. 5, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 23,336 Great Britain of 1912 

